Club Minutes: Horticultural Society, 1880-1891

252 H/7/1890 -1Fair Hill July 1^st 1876 noon Temp 87^o We held our first meeting at this place Our President expressed his pleasure at being able to meet at this place which was full of pleasant memories to him, and to many of the rest of us, and congratulated us on having this family added to our list. The absent were the members from White Hall and Tanglewood. Our guests were Kate Elberry, Patty Farquhar, Elizabeth and Mairana Stabler Mabel Reese and Mrs. Pilling.

The specimens were, from Rockland new potatoes, beets, peas, wax beans, cymblings, onions, cabbage, cauliflower and flowers Riverton, flowers, apples, raspberries, potatoes & corn Riverside flowers. "The Cedars flowers, sweet corn beets new potatoes, onions, cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, cymblings peas and wax beans. Avalon ripe tomatoes, cabbage, Alpine strawberries and flowers Edgewood, cabbage, apples, corn, large green tomatoes, onions, wax beans, raspberries & flowers and a beautiful stalk of Auraturn lily raised Mary Bond Alloway, Salsify onions, large green tomatoes and flowers Norwood, new potatoes, 11 from 1 hill and cymblings Cloverley, cabbage, beets, onions, beans, large green tomatoes.

H/7/1890 -2- 253 Rock Spring, cymblings, cabbage and cauliflower Longwood pears green tomatoes raspberries & flowers A very good and beautiful display.

Avalon had ripe tomatoes June 27^th Hermon had them June 21^st Riverton potatoes June 10 Norwood potatoes June 15 Falling Green potatoes June 29^th

The vote was taken whether to have an exhibition this fall - negative gained by 1 vote. Then followed some discussion of the Exhibition. A member thinking it would be well when we had the next one, to fix a time further from the time of the county fair than we have been in the habit of doing Another proposed that we should have one once in five years. It was left for discussion at another meeting

Poultry was found to be a disgusting subject. There had been so many disappointed members - Rats had made sad havoc at many places. Margaret Magruder, had had 100 chickens stolen in one night

The 1^st reader Alice T. Stabler read of prisonous plants and blossoms and Lifes' mistakes. 2^nd Annie B. Kirk apologised for forgetting her appointment Secretary read "Why Cain killed Abel"

Reader for next meeting Annie B. Kirk and Mary S. Hallowell.

Questions 1 What kind of soil use to pot an India rubber tree? not known

254 H/7/1890 -3. 2^nd What time plant sweet corn for late crop? From the 1^st to the 10^th of June.

3 Is it too soon to plant Kale? Yes have till last of August or 1^st of September.

4 Can roses be raised in limestone soil? They may if sand or wood's earth be added.

5 Should the ground around rose bushes be loosened when it is baked hard? A shallow working is recommended.

6 Has any one tried planitng celery in corn rows? It is sometimes done. Would it do to plant it between raspberry bushes? Kate Janney please try it and report.

On our walk in the garden we saw luxuriant growth; long rows of vegetables in beautiful order, the salsify espeecially noticeable size and thrifty appearance. Grape vines loaded with large bunches of grapes with no faulty ones visible. The rose bushes were the finest we have seen, showing no sign of slug bug of mildew; from the garden we visited Duck pens, built, as they should be at a distance from othher buildings and all in fine order and with all the conveniences the most fastidious hens could desire.

After a delightful afternoon we adjourned hoping to meet next month at Rockland

H//1890 -1- 255 Rockland Aug. 5^th 1890 noon Tem 86^o Our President expressed his pleasure and satisfaction at having us at his house and assured us that he considered the society has done good work in the past in encouraging the members to continue in their efforts to have good gardens, neat lawns and as many beautiful trees and plants as circimstances will allow. The absent were White Hall, Norwood and Edgewood. Our guests were George and [?]aider Miller, Mr and Mrs Marshall, Washington Chichester Jr Rebecca Miller Nannie and Carrie Reese. In answer to suggestion for the improvement of the Society, a member thought it would be more interesting to talk Wash women Cooks and cooking recipes, than to talk so much about gardens! A letter was read from Eliza Moon Claming the next meeting and expressing her wish to have it on the 29^th of this month as the ususal day in Sept. would be too near the time of the county fair.

The specimens were from Springdale tomatoes, peppers and flowers: Brooke Grove flowers: Falling Green cabbage, beets, tomatoes Lima beans, pepper, egg-plant, potatoes, apples, cymlings, onions, cucumbers and flowers Avalon, Lima beans. Fair Hill flowers: Alloway Salsify, potatoes, tomatoes, egg-plant, Lima beans and flowers.

The poultry question was followed by a dead silence. Then it was said that the Turkies

256 H/8/1890 -2at Fair Hill had heart failure 1 Reader Annie B. Kirk read a poem by Longfellow on flowers. 2^nd reader Mary Hallowell requested John Bentley to read for her; his selection was on the subject of fruit culture advocating spraying trees to have perfect fruit, and calling the the Codlin Moth the chief enemy. The Secretary read a method of raising roses. The readers for next meeting Eliza Moore and Sue Thomas.

Questions 1 Is it too late to plant sweet corn? Try it and report to the Society

2 How raise lettuce to have it early in the spring? Plant in a cold frame and cover with sash or sow in open ground and cover with fodder or Cedar boughs.

3 How raise egg-plants? John Bentley's plan of planting in cornfield in nussing hills was very successsful. some what shaded seems to suit them If in a dry place mulch and use but little fertilizer

4 How many egg-plants enough for a family? 12. 1. 18. 30, 50 according to the size of the family

5 What time move lily bulbs? After the tops die and before growth starts in the fall

6 What time plant onions to leave in the ground, all winter? In November

7 When plant cabbage in the fall to have it very early in the spring? 1^st of Novem-